Wind Power and New Mexico 4-H

							The Power of the Wind
        and
   New Mexico 4-H
           Karen Paige
      Northern Stars 4-H Club
    NM 4-H Adult Leaders Forum
        November 5, 2011
   Wind Power Curriculum Basics
• Based on national curriculum, not NM curriculum
• Curriculum can be purchased or downloaded at
  www.4-h.org/curriculum/wind (certain sections
  only)
• Introduces engineering concepts
• Involves hands on activities for a range of ages
  divided into logical sections, for easy group or
  individual work
• Interested 4-H members can take the project
  further with ideas in curriculum and online
Curriculum Chapters and Activities
1) Think like an engineer: Design a wind powered
   boat
2) Study the wind: Make a wind speed gauge, learn
   the Beaufort wind scale
3) Use the wind: Design pinwheels, Lift a load with
   wind, compare high and low solidity turbines,
   Wind power and electric motors and generators
4) Geography and wind: Where does wind blow,
   Where are wind farms located
5) Wind in art and design
     Chap. 1 -Think like an engineer
•   Encourage kids to keep a scientific notebook
•   Introduce a design issue to think about
•   Activity: make a wind powered boat
•   Follow Engineering Design Process:
    –   Step 1 Define the problem
    –   Step 2 Research how others have solved it
    –   Step 3 Brainstorm solutions, pick one
    –   Step 4 Create & test prototype
    –   Step 5 Redesign solution
    –   Step 6 Finalize design, make final drawings
    –   Step 7 Communicate design in words and drawings
    –   Step 8 Define new problem and start over
      Chap. 2 – Study the wind
• Observe wind’s effects
• Estimate wind speeds
• Use the Beaufort Wind Scale which correlates
  appearance of wind on land with approximate
  wind speed
• Activity – make a tetraflexagon to help
  interpret Beaufort Wind Scale
        Chap. 3 – Use the wind
• Activity – Design a better pinwheel
• Things to try:
  – Make them smaller or larger
  – Try three fold symmetry, four fold symmetry, more
  – Try various stiffness of paper
• Things to discuss:
  – Define what “best” means? Faster? Stronger?
  – Change only one variable at a time
         Chap. 3 – Use the wind,
              to lift a load
• Activity – Use the wind to lift a load
• Challenge: Design and build a wind turbine to
  lift at least four pennies in a cup
• Use Engineering Design Process
• More challenge: Design turbines with high and
  low solidity and compare
• We will try these challenges later on! They
  were harder than initially expected!
           Chap. 3 Use the wind,
          with a motor/generator
• Activity – Turn rotor blades attached to shaft of a
  motor (use 1.5-3 V motor, available at Radio
  Shack). Use a multimeter to measure the voltage
  (potential to make electricity) generated when
  blades spin. Engine is acting as generator now.
  Turbines that can generate 1.0 volts can probably
  light a small LED.
  We had problems getting a cork to stay on the
  turbine shaft and blades to stick in the cork. Any
  ideas?
          Chap. 3 Use the wind,
         with a motor/generator
• Activity – Attach battery to motor and watch
  rotors spin. Engine is acting as a motor now.
  Take apart a motor and see how the motor
  works to generate electricity
  This is how kinetic flashlights work also!
                Chap. 3 Use the wind
The science behind wind
   turbines:
   When electrons flow
   through a wire a
   magnetic field is
   created around it.
   When a magnetic field
   moves past a wire,
   electrons are pushed
   through it, thereby
   generating electricity.
   To generate lots of
   electricity, many wires
   are used, a coil of wire.
               Chap. 3 – Use the wind
When the north pole of a magnet passes
a coil, current flows in one direction.
When the south pole of a magnet
passes a coil, current flows in the
opposite direction.
When the magnetic field is at 90
degrees to the coil windings, the most
electric current is generated.
When the magnetic field is parallel to
the coil windings no electric current is
generated.
This cycle causes an alternating current
to flow.
The voltage and current generated
depends on the strength of the
magnets, the number of turns of wire in
the coils, the distance between the coils
and the magnets, and the speed of the
magnets passing the coils.
   Chap. 4 – Geography and wind
• Maps of available wind power and existing wind
  turbines from U.S. Department of Energy site –
  www.windpoweringamerica.gov
• Discuss what geographic features contribute to
  strong wind power.
• Discuss where wind turbines are located in NM.
• A speed of 8 mph (3 m/sec) is needed to start a
  generator. A speed of 15 mph (7 m/sec) is
  needed to produce electricity.
  Chap. 5 – Wind in art and design
• Poetry, literature, kinetic sculptures
• Design your own wind machine
How can NM 4-H use this curriculum?
Let’s brainstorm!
• National curriculum not currently a project in
  NM 4-H
• Excellent club project as a monthly group
  activity
• Individuals could enroll in a Self Determined
  project – maybe Electricity?
                 Summary
• Excellent hands-on project for individuals and
  groups
• Comprehensive, easy-to-use curriculum
• Many resources available on line
• Teaches STEM skills
• Not a NM 4-H project, yet…
• Let’s try the experiments now!